In 1955, Jennings was caught up in a minor constitutional difficulty when shortly after the general election a political opponent highlighted the fact that he had been, since 1923, a public auditor approved by the Treasury. He had taken the post solely in order to audit the books of the Cotherstone British Legion and Village Club, but there were circumstances in which he might have been paid by the Treasury: this would make it an "office of profit under the Crown" and therefore a disqualification from being elected.[4]
The matter was referred by the House of Commons to a Select Committee which reported that Jennings was indeed disqualified under the law as it stood. The government rushed through Parliament a Bill changing the law, and another bill indemnifying Jennings from the consequences of acting as an MP while disqualified and validating his election. Several other MPs were similarly found to have been unknowingly disqualified in an ensuing investigation.
^"Obituary: Sir Roland Jennings". The Times. 7 December 1968. p. 10.
^ abCraig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
roland, jennings, november, 1894, december, 1968, british, chartered, accountant, politician, jennings, born, sunderland, jane, hannah, jennings, cornelius, jennings, served, with, durham, light, infantry, first, world, elected, conservative, member, parliamen. Sir Roland Jennings 10 November 1894 1 5 December 1968 was a British chartered accountant and politician 2 Jennings was born in Sunderland the son of Jane Hannah Jennings and Cornelius Jennings He served with the Durham Light Infantry in the First World War He was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament MP for Sedgefield in County Durham at the 1931 general election defeating the Labour Party MP John Herriotts Jennings was defeated at the 1935 general election by Labour s John Leslie He is the last Conservative to serve as Member of Parliament MP for the constituency until Paul Howell in 2019After losing the Wandsworth Central seat in a 1937 by election Jennings returned to the House of Commons in 1939 when he was elected as MP for Sheffield Hallam at a by election following the death of Sir Louis William Smith At this and each subsequent election he fought as a Conservative and Liberal although he took the Conservative whip 3 In 1955 Jennings was caught up in a minor constitutional difficulty when shortly after the general election a political opponent highlighted the fact that he had been since 1923 a public auditor approved by the Treasury He had taken the post solely in order to audit the books of the Cotherstone British Legion and Village Club but there were circumstances in which he might have been paid by the Treasury this would make it an office of profit under the Crown and therefore a disqualification from being elected 4 The matter was referred by the House of Commons to a Select Committee which reported that Jennings was indeed disqualified under the law as it stood The government rushed through Parliament a Bill changing the law and another bill indemnifying Jennings from the consequences of acting as an MP while disqualified and validating his election Several other MPs were similarly found to have been unknowingly disqualified in an ensuing investigation Jennings retired from Parliament at the 1959 general election 3 References edit 1939 England and Wales Register Obituary Sir Roland Jennings The Times 7 December 1968 p 10 a b Craig F W S 1983 1969 British parliamentary election results 1918 1949 3rd ed Chichester Parliamentary Research Services ISBN 0 900178 06 X The Times 23 July 1955 External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Roland JenningsParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byJohn Herriotts Member of Parliament for Sedgefield1931 1935 Succeeded byJohn LesliePreceded bySir Louis Smith Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam1939 1959 Succeeded byJohn Osborn nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Conservative Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom representing an English constituency and born in the 1890s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roland Jennings amp oldid 1188810310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
